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A method and system of near saturation gas humidification by mixing a steam and a gas flow is disclosed. The steam is generated with a heating device at a controlled rate from a liquid contained in a vessel near the point of use of the humidified gas. The controlled rate results from a feedback loop

A method and system of near saturation gas humidification by mixing a steam and a gas flow is disclosed. The steam is generated with a heating device at a controlled rate from a liquid contained in a vessel near the point of use of the humidified gas. The controlled rate results from a feedback loop that controllably heats the liquid while measuring the steam temperature and maintaining it around a set point. The humidification delivery rate is adjustable by adjusting the temperature set point and/or the gas pressure. Undesirable components from the humidified gas are removed with an in-line filter after its point of generation. Condensation from the humidified gas before its point of use is removed with a drain pipe in combination with a drain valve triggered by a condensation level sensor.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A method of near saturation humidification of a gas flow, the method comprising: generating steam in a chamber filled partially with steam-generating liquid up to a level controlled by an external sensor, wherein a heater is immersed in said steam-generating liquid; causing

What is claimed is: 1. A method of near saturation humidification of a gas flow, the method comprising: generating steam in a chamber filled partially with steam-generating liquid up to a level controlled by an external sensor, wherein a heater is immersed in said steam-generating liquid; causing said steam and a gas flow to be mixed to produce a humidified gas flow to be delivered via an exit port; and removing condensation from the humidified gas flow by a condensation removing device including a drain pipe and a condensation level sensor. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising injecting said steam into said gas flow. 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising injecting said gas flow into said steam from a path bent towards said steam-generating liquid to maximize mixing said steam into said gas. 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising causing the humidified gas flow to pass through an in-line filter to remove any possible extraneous material from the humidified gas flow. 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the possible extraneous material includes large droplets. 6. The method of claim 5 further comprising controlling, around a desired value, a steam generation rate from said steam-generating liquid. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein said controlling of the steam generation rate further comprises using a feedback loop to controllably heat the steam-generating liquid while measuring the temperature of the generated steam so as to maintain a steam temperature of the steam-generating liquid around a pre-determined set point. 8. The method of claim 7 further comprising controlling, around a selectable desired value, a humidification delivery rate at a point of use of the humidified gas flow. 9. The method of claim 1 further comprising adjusting the selectable humidification delivery rate. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein said adjusting of the selectable humidification delivery rate comprises: adjusting a pre-determined temperature set point accordingly; providing said gas flow with an adjustable pressure; and adjusting said pressure accordingly. 11. The method of claim 10 further comprising causing the humidified gas flow to pass through an in-line filter to remove any possible extraneous material from the humidified gas flow. 12. The method of claim 1 further comprising removing condensation from the humidified gas flow before a point of use. 13. The method of claim 12 further comprising sensing a condensation level between a point of steam generation and the point of use of the humidified gas flow and, and when said condensation reaches a pre-determined level, draining the condensation from the humidified gas flow. 14. A system for near saturation humidification of a gas flow, the system comprises: a chamber filled partially with steam-generating liquid up to a level controlled by an external sensor; a heater immersed in said steam-generating liquid to generate steam, wherein, when a gas flow is injected into the chamber, the gas flow is mixed with the steam to produce a humidified gas flow; and a drain pipe controlled by a drain valve triggered by a condensation level sensor to remove condensation from the humidified gas flow. 15. The system of claim 14 further comprising an in-line filter to remove any possible extraneous material from the humidified gas flow. 16. The system of claim 15, wherein the possible extraneous material includes large droplets. 17. The system of claim 15, wherein said gas flow is made of air, Nitrogen or an inert gas. 18. The system of claim 15, wherein said gas flow is injected into a non-filled space above said steam-generating liquid in the chamber to be mixed with the steam from said steam-generating liquid. 19. The system of claim 18, wherein said steam-generating liquid is produced by the immersed heater controlled by a thermocouple attached to the chamber. 20. The system of claim 19, wherein said steam-generating liquid is essentially water. 21. The system of claim 14 further comprising a manifold device operatively connected to the chamber for supplying said gas flow, supplying said steam-generating liquid, injecting the steam into the gas flow and delivering the humidified gas flow to a point of use. 22. The system of claim 21, wherein said manifold device further comprises a liquid level sensor for sensing a liquid level within the chamber and a valve feed line, under a control of the liquid level sensor, for maintaining an adequate liquid level within the chamber. 23. The system of claim 22, wherein said chamber further comprises a generation rate control means for controlling, around a desired value, a steam generation rate from said steam-generating liquid. 24. The system of claim 23, wherein said generation rate control means further comprises a feedback loop to controllably heat the steam-generating liquid while measuring a temperature of the generated steam so as to maintain the steam temperature around a pre-determined set point. 25. The system of claim 23, wherein said feedback loop further comprises a heating device, in contact and for heating the steam-generating liquid, and a temperature measuring device in contact and for measuring the steam temperature. 26. The system of claim 25, wherein said heating device further comprises a replaceable heater cartridge. 27. The system of claim 25, wherein said temperature measuring device further comprises a thermocouple. 28. The system of claim 24 further comprising a humidification delivery rate control means for controlling, around a selectable desired value, a humidification delivery rate at the point of use of the humidified gas flow. 29. The system of claim 28, wherein said humidification delivery rate is made adjustable by having said humidification delivery rate control means that further comprises at least one of: a. temperature set point adjusting means for adjusting said pre-determined temperature set point accordingly; or b. pressure set point adjusting means for providing said gas flow with an adjustable pressure and adjusting said pressure accordingly. 30. The system of claim 14 further comprising an extraneous material removing device for removing components, other than the steam and the flow gas, from the humidified gas flow. 31. The system of claim 30, wherein said extraneous material removing device further comprises an in-line filter for passing the steam and the flow gas while blocking other components of the humidified gas flow and allowing them to flow back to the steam-generating liquid. 32. The system of claim 14 further comprising a condensation removing device for removing condensation from the humidified gas flow before a point of use. 33. The system of claim 32, wherein said condensation removing device further comprises a drain pipe operatively attached to the manifold device between a point of steam generation and the point of use of the humidified gas flow, a condensation level sensor located with the drain pipe for sensing the condensation level and a drain valve for, when said condensation reaches a pre-determined level, draining the condensation.